Seminoles Grab Six ACC Weekly Awards

Tallahassee, FL - The No. 2/3-ranked Florida State football team hauled in six ACC weekly honors and collected a few more national awards on Monday following the Seminoles’ commanding 51-14 win at then-No. 3/4 Clemson.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston grabbed ACC Offensive Back of the Week accolades for the second time this season and took home his fourth ACC Rookie of the Week award after shredding the Tigers’ defense for 444 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

Overall, the Seminoles snagged six of the eight weekly honors possible from the ACC.

Senior Telvin Smith was named Co-Linebacker of the Week – his second weekly honor from the conference – while junior Cameron Erving grabbed Offensive Lineman of the Week and junior Rashad Greene earned Receiver of the Week after tallying 146 yards and two scores at Clemson.

Senior cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, who forced three first-half turnovers against the Tigers, was named the ACC’s Defensive Back of the Week.

More Awards for JoynerJoyner was also named the Reese’s Senior Bowl College Senior of the Week in addition to being named the College Football Performance Awards National Defensive Back of the Week and the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week on Sunday.

Joyner is also one of four players in the running for the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week. Voting for the honor, which awards a $1,000 scholarship to the winner’s university general scholarship fund, end Tuesday morning and can be done at: http://lottimpacttrophy.org/vote/

Winston Wins Davey O’Brien Award AgainWinston captured the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week award for the third time this season on Monday.

Winston completed 22-of-34 passes for a career-high 444 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a fourth score in a game the Seminoles controlled from start to finish. Winston previously earned Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week honors this season in Week 1 (vs. Pittsburgh) and Week 6 (vs. Maryland).

Winston is also one of eight quarterbacks nominated for the Allstate Sugar Bowl Manning Award Player of the Week honor. Fans can vote for the award by liking Winston’s photo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153355218605459.1073741846.297090315458&type=1&l=486de2a78b

Aguayo Named One of Three Lou Groza Stars of WeekRedshirt freshman kicker Roberto Aguayo was named one of three Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week on Monday.

College football's top kicking award, the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the "Stars of the Week."

Aguayo made all three of his field goals and all nine of his PAT’s against Clemson, single-handedly outscoring the Tigers, 15-14. Aguayo has not missed a kick (51 straight) to start his career and leads the country in scoring by a kicker (11.8).

Seminoles No. 1 in UPS Performance IndexFlorida State vaulted to No. 1 in the UPS Performance Index on Monday following the 51-14 win at No. 3/4 Clemson on Saturday.

Florida State (6-0) improved its UPS Team Performance Index rating more than six points, from 133.25 to 139.74, after its performance this weekend. The team’s well-balanced performance on both sides of the football was emblematic of the team’s strong performance so far this season on both offense (141.39 TPI) and defense (124.11 TPI), both of which rank third overall in the country.

The UPS Performance Index using the following statistical components: Offense, Special Teams, Miscues and Quality of Opponent.

Jimbo Fisher Press Conference Transcript – Oct. 21, 2013

Opening Statement:“I’m very proud of our team and the way we competed at Clemson. Like I always say, (I’m) real proud of how we handled the clutter. The media hype around the game and then things that went on, they showed a very mature approach and how they dealt with things and left things up to the game and dealt with all the things they had to do. (They) prepared very well during the weeks we had. We took the time to improve on some things. We still have to get better in a lot of things – still a lot of plays and yards and stops out there that we need to get cleaned up. They realized that after the game. I’m just overall proud of how we competed. I thought defense did a great job of setting the tone early, being very physical at the line of scrimmage (and) tackling well in space. I thought one of the key was we kept great leverage on the football all night and our tackling angles, which allow us to get better. Clemson is a very dynamic offensive football team and special teams did a really nice job of tailing things and on offense we were very physical at the line of scrimmage and took care of the ball for the most part. (We) capitalized on most of our opportunities and situations and handled two-minutes before the half well, coming out of the half well, started well, converted on turnovers and kept momentum of the game. Clemson at times after we got the momentum, I thought they got it back awhile. Then we were able to sustain it defensively twice with them getting great field position and getting stops. Then we were able to take a long drive down the field and a big play by Rashad Greene and got the momentum back and we continued to roll in the game and played well. We’ve got to move on from that one before we play North Carolina State. They’re coming off a bye week. They’ll be rested, they’ll be healed. They’ll get guys back on the field. They’ll have a lot of time to study, bring in new wrinkles to the game. (We’ve) got to get our kids focused and move on, I think they will. They understand that. We’ll get a good week of practice, get rested and get ready mentally and prepare to play this week and win the game during the week with that preparation.”

On the clutter now that Florida State is No. 2 in the BCS:“I don’t think it will change. Clutter is clutter no matter what it is. You have to stay focused and prioritize. Learning to prioritize is very critical and success and maintaining success and having consistency – prioritizing and not changing those priorities and I think that’s what our focus will be on. That’s how we prepare and that’s how we play and control the things we can control.”

On redshirt junior offensive lineman Cameron Erving winning ACC Lineman of the Week:“He had a lot of 1-on-1’s and he slid and did some things, but it was a lot of 1-on-1 matchup, run blocking and pass blocking, but I thought Cam played an excellent football game. I really did. I can’t remember one time where he gave up a true pressure. He took the challenge and stepped up and that’s what good players do. He’s really developing himself and being much more consistent and he’s a great guy and really developing into a heck of an offensive lineman.”

On redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston and the Heisman Trophy race:“If you want to be in the Heisman race, keep winning games. As much as it is about great play, it’s about your team winning games and being successful. You’ve got to remember, ‘how did we win’ (and) power of preparation and ‘how are you playing well’ power of preparation and are they keeping things in perspective that way. I think he will and I think our team will. I think part of that is a team goal because it’s about the people around you and how they deal with those situations too and how they act and I think our guys have been around it more. I think our program is more mature that way and it will help Jameis and his maturity as he goes down the road.”

On if he was watching Winston in warmups and how he was handling things:“A little bit. I was curious after the turnover what would happen. But it was the same as it was when he had mistakes in other games. There was no need to panic on it and he felt very comfortable in the whole situation. (He) never showed any signs.”

On junior running back James Wilder Jr. being frustrated by injury:“I don’t know if it’s frustrating, I think he understands that it’s part of football. He hasn’t shown any signs. He’s practiced and has shown enthusiasm and leadership and James is a terrific teammates. His work ethic and his ability to affect other guys is just overall love of playing football. When you’re out there, you see it. I haven’t seen any signs of frustration. I’m sure he would like to be healthy all the time, no doubt, but I don’t see signs of frustration. I really don’t.”

On how senior linebacker Telvin Smith is playing right now:“Excellent. (His) calls (and) leadership, I mean he’s playing unbelievable football right now.”

On Smith’s maturity from a year ago:“On the field, yes, much more disciplined. But, I think understanding the importance of everything off the field. Not that he was bad, I don’t mean it that way, you just really see him growing up and becoming a man and it’s carried right on to the field. (I’m) very proud of him. He’s a fun guy to coach.”

On if that was the best game for the defensive line this year:“One of the best ones. There were a couple of other ones. I thought they played extremely well against Maryland, but considering the circumstances I thought they were pretty dadgum good. Timmy (Jernigan) was dominant in there and Eddie (Goldman). I thought Jacobbi (McDaniel) played really well. I thought (Demonte) McAllister, all of those guys were very physical inside and at the point and did a really nice job along with Mario Edwards (Jr.) and the ends, they were really good. Christian Jones was all over the place (and) Mario Edwards was physical and dominant. (Ukeme) Eligwe and (Chris) Casher had good moments at times. Those guys played a good game.

On the play of the secondary:“I think we have the chance to be (the best in the nation). We have good players. We like our players. We’re very confident. We have guys that are very multiple that can go corner – safety, safety-corner, have ball skills, have length, have size, have quickness. It’s a very good group. They have a good scheme and they’re learning. The thing about it, they love ball. They’re all very natural football players, not just athletes and that’s one of the things that makes them so good is that they can dissect information, process it and be able to make the right decision to get in the right spot when they have to. Really, understanding the schemes because (Jeremy) Pruitt and them are here and they’re really understanding what he wants them to do. Our defensive staff and our assistant coaches, I say that all the time they do a tremendous job of getting our guys ready to play. On offense, defense, special teams, they’re doing a great job of coaching our guys.”

On what it means to have Coach Bobby Bowden coming back this weekend:“It’s what’s right about the world. He made Florida State. He was Florida State. That’s why we have this stadium, the facilities, that’s why we have academics, that’s why we have the school. That’s why we have everything. Coach Bowden allowed Florida State to open the doors and raise money and be great to come to Florida State, not just athletically, but academically. I think it’s what’s right about the world. It’s what’s right for Florida State and it’s great for college football. I’m extremely excited because he was my hero too.”

On what he learned from Coach Bowden and how he let him take over the program:“He used to tell me that all the time. ‘Whenever I’m done, I’m going to get out of town because it’s not good for the head coach to hang around,’ and I think it may have happened to him before at one time in his career and it wasn’t good. He said that 20 years ago, but still, to go out there and do it and the circumstances and the way he did it. It’s just who he is. He’s class. That’s why there is one Bobby Bowden.”

More on what Jimbo Fisher learned from Coach Bowden:“The class and how you have to be. But, more importantly, Coach Bowden was himself; he didn’t try to be anybody. He was himself and he treated people well. Kids loved him – he was tough on them. What you don’t see, that guy was tougher than you give him credit for. Extremely hard-nosed and tough and you don’t realize it. It’s unbelievable. But, the way he conducts himself, he was great example to watch. A lot of my beliefs and philosophies of football still come from Coach Bowden.”

On Winston being efficient against the blitz:“We work blitz every day. I think the most critical thing on offense is being able to handle blitz. If you can’t handle blitz you can’t play. I don’t care if it’s running game or passing game. It’s the most critical thing and they’re going to affect (you). Blitz is two things, it may devastate you or (its) big time and you can create big plays for you. And I think the yards after catch are critical too. I think guys that have YAC yards, catching the football making those plays is very critical. Our receivers making those plays did a great job. A lot of teams don’t do what we do and how there’s a lot more on protections and a lot more on the quarterback, there’s a lot more on the offensive linemen and a lot more on the receivers. They have to learn it. They have to pick it up, but it allows you to have answers to what people do and you’re not going in blind. Some folks don’t do that. We’ve put a lot of time in. We’ve got experience guys that are doing a great job of it and Jameis is doing a great job of getting the ball out. We’re picking up up-front, inside, out. (We’re) making it a long way to get to him (Jameis) and it allows him that extra second to get it out. He’s getting it to guys at the right time and they’re taking the ball – it’s a combination. From the offensive line to the backs, it’s a combination of everything but his knowledge of the game and where his pressure is and understanding his protection. That’s the hardest thing when you get to pro ball – all the different blitzes, all the different ways you pick up and where your trouble zones are and how you have to pick them up from all the different looks and his ability to process information is tremendous and allows us to get the ball out and the receivers have to be on the same page too.”

On what the reason is for the good execution:“It’s experience. You had a sophomore offense last year, you still have a junior offense and there are only three seniors. Guys understand the system and what’s going on. (They’re) able to do the little things better. I say it all the time, I think it’s consistency and performance over a long period of time. They’re able to sustain, be more consistent. They’re still a lot of things I’ m not happy with that we can do better and the players come off the field and they say it too. I think it’s knowledge of your job and then the focus. The ability to focus and understand when you’re older, that there’s times to play and times to get serious and you’ve got to lock in and play. The older you get the more you understand that, the more you do it (and) have more confidence in it and you’re able to repeat it. I think that’s the key. People say that Jameis is young, well Jameis is different. He handles those things differently, but at the same time, the guys around him are functioning at a higher level which allows him to function. I think the defense is learning it right now. That’s why I think you’re seeing the defense growing into what it’s doing.”

On the year’s team being special:“You grow in a system. You grow in a family atmosphere. The longer you’re in the family, the longer you understand. It’s their fourth year in for most of them and the older guys now understand that the way things are done and what they believe and then bring that down into the siblings and they learn from the older brothers and sisters. It takes time to develop. We all want instant gratification; sometimes the instant gratification is good, sometimes it’s bad. You can get to where you want to go and still not have a foundation for a house. You can build that house real quick, but you have to build a foundation for it and how you’re doing things and that’s what I think is happening with our older guys. They’re selling that foundation to the younger guys and it’s making them closer and that’s where the love, trust and belief comes from.”

On the BCS this year:“Oh I love the computers now. No, the only thing I’ve ever asked for is consistency. We were as high as sixth in one poll and then we weren’t even in the top 25 in another. Whatever it is, that part of it. Give me some consistency. You hear me say it all the time, that’s my word, consistency. The system is what it is, we can’t change it and the other. This is the coaches’ polls and human polls still have to be a big part of how you pick this thing. Because the eye test and the computer doesn’t know what humans know. Whatever things you have in it, just give me some consistency.”

On NC State quarterback Brandon Mitchell:“He can play. He’s a big strong, athletic guy, can throw it, run, he’s a heck of a football player. They’ll get him back and he’s a guy that can move around. He’s a good player now.”

On senior linebacker Christian Jones’ play:“I like him out there. It creates a lot of different packages for us to use. At times he can go to be a second level player too, still cover and run and I said before, he’s one of the better pass-cover linebackers I’ve ever been around. He’s tremendous and his versatility there to move him around is critical to our success on the field.”

On coming off a big win and looking to another top-10 in two weeks and if it helps to have an opponent like NC State this week:“I don’t think any of those things hurt. But, I think it’s how you handle them and put them into perspective. You have play another game and you have to know that these guys are very capable and in order not to feel the pain you felt a year ago, you have to prepare well. That’s the key. It’s the next game and most important one of the season. You want to play well for Coach Bowden, but at the same time you got to make sure – the celebration for Coach Bowden is for him and the fans and things, you can’t let that be part of your thinking. That’s clutter too. I don’t mean that in a negative way, I love Coach Bowden to death but I think it’s another growing stage for our program to be able to handle situations that will hopefully be around for a long time.”

On junior tight end Nick O’Leary’s role:“I think he’s being much more consistent. I think he’s learning blocking, on the ball, off the ball, being able to move. I think his routes have gotten better because of the knowledge of offense. He’s always a great ball-skills guy (and has) great instincts that way, but understanding coverages and how to sit down and get open and we’re allowing a lot of freedom and how we’re getting him the ball and it’s working.”

On whether it means a lot to see former head coach Bobby Bowden return:“It really does. I remember the day he retired – it rained for three days straight in Tallahassee. He never came around after that and I haven’t seen him in a long time. He’s a legend – I came here to play for Coach Bowden first. He’s a legend and I wanted to play for a legend, and I was lucky enough to be on the team for a year.”

On Coach Bowden’s final game at the Gator Bowl:“It was cool to be a part of. I can tell my grandkids that someday. It’s cool to say that I was there. After the five of us are gone (players under coach Bowden), nobody has any association with Coach Bowden. We’re the last of that recruiting class.”

On the day he first met Coach Bowden:“Well, I met him in the airport. I was already committed so he didn’t have to recruit me that hard. After seeing him get off the airplane I was like, ‘Wow, Coach Bowden just flew into Vero Beach just to see me on a Sunday when he could be at home with his wife.’ It meant a lot and it was definitely a respectable gesture.”

On whether he froze up when he first got the opportunity to meet Coach Bowden:“It’s weird. When special things happen to me it’s like I treat it as just a normal moment. Just like with Clemson, just treat it as a regular opponent. To think about it is really cool, just saying that Coach Bowden really came to see me.”

On watching Coach Bowden plant the spear at the Gator Bowl:“It brought tears to my eyes because I knew that was the last time he would ever coach Florida State. Before the year we knew it would already happen. It was really neat to see. For all those years Osceola and Renegade got to do it, Coach Bowden finally got to do it.”

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